Packaging apparatus



Feb. 28, 1956 c. H. KREBs ETAL 2,736,477

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGZ.

Feb. 28, 1956 c. H. Knees ETAL PACKAGING APPARATUS 2'A Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 18, 1952 United States Patent IO PACKAGING .armani-.us

Charles H. Krebs and .lohn D. Franks, Chicago, Ill., assignors to AtlasBoxniakers, lne., Chicago, iti., a corporation of yDelaware ApplicationAugust 13, 1952, Serial No. 395,@34

12 Claims. (Cl. 2% 1/1) This invention relates generally tocarton-filling machinery, and has particular reference to the packagingof tin can ends and other similar round objects.

In the manufacture of can ends, it is customary to die cut the blanksfrom a sheet of metal, press concentric rings into the blank, roll thechime at the edge of the blank, and apply a sealing compound in thevalley of the chime. Thereafter, the lids are inspected and depositedupon a conveyor which moves the same under a suction canopy for theevaporating of solvent from the sealing compound. The latter operationis a time-consuming one made necessary only by the manner in which thecan ends have heretofore been packed.

The conventional method of packing such can ends involves stacking themin multiples of a hundred or more, and thenenclosing the stacks eitherin a cylindrical container of inside diameter just sufficient toaccommodate the diameter of the can ends, or as in most cases,handwrapping the same with paper to form a cylindrical package osuicient strength to withstand the rigors of handling. In either event,the can ends are closely confined by the container, but it has beendiscovered that if such can ends be packed in polygonal containers, thecorners thereof provide sufficient air space that the excess solventwill evaporate from the sealing compound while packed, and withoutnecessitating use of the suctioncanopied conveyor above described.

The packingofstacks of can ends in. a polygonal container withoutprevious wrapping is an awkward operation, particularly when thecontainer is proportioned to accommodate two hundred or more ends. Thesmaller the diameter of the ends, and the higherthe stack, the

.more awkward the operation becomes, because the can ends tend to turnedgewise or completely over in the Aprocess of being dropped axiallyinto an open-ended polygonal container. `Side opening polygonalcontainers minirnize this difficulty; but, unless special precautionsare taken, do not aiord the requisite protection in transportation landother handling.

The object of the present invention,generally stated, isto provide anapparatus for packaging can ends and other similar round objectsinopen-ended polygonal containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein canends and similar round objects may be stacked indesired multiple,inspected while so stacked, and charged into a container while remainingin stacked relationship, and while in predetermined multiple suicient toiill thecontainer.

In accordance .with this invention, round discs, such as can ends, arepacked in polygonal containers by preliminarily stacking them. inpredetermined multiple between, and confining them by, parallel guiderods which are arranged in spaced relationship immediately outside ofthe margin of the discs. The lower ends of at least two of such rodsareprovided with projections normally pointed toward the geometricalaxis of the stack, and extending in that direction so as to terminatewithin the 2,736,477 .ipatented Feb. 28, 1956 ICC margin of the discs.In their normal position, said projections sustain the weight of thestack of discs, but the projections are retractable to permit escape ofthe stack of discs in the relative downward direction from between theguide rods, and without disturbing the stacked relationship of thediscs.

It is desirable that the discs, while confined between Ythe guide rodsbe exposed and maneuverable for visual'inspection, and consequently thespace between the rods is preferably left open at least at the front.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a container supportingmember arranged in axial Aalignment with the discs as stacked betweenthe guide rods. The container is arranged to telescope over the lowerends of the guide rods and the stack of discs coniined thereby, with theguide rods occupying the corners 0f the polygonal container on theoutside of the disc periphery. Such telescoping may be accomplishedeither by moving the open top container upwardly over the lower ends ofthe guide rods or by moving the guide rods (and the conned stack ofdiscs) downwardly into the container. When the telescoped relationshiphas been achieved, the projections on the lower ends of the guide rodsare retracted to release the discs from confinement with the rods, andthe guide rods are then withdrawn from the container, or the container(with the stack of discs) withdrawn from the guide rods. To render thedevice semi-automatic in operation, the projection retracting mechanismis coordinated with the relative movement between the guide rods and thecontainer, so that the retracting mechanism is actuated when the desiredteleseopic relationship is achieved.

ln order that the stack of discs and guide rods be movable downwardlyinto the carton or the carton be movable upwardly over the stack androds, it is essential that the retracting mechanism be disposed so asnot to foul the telescopic movement of the carton. While the retractingmechanism can be arranged to actuate automatically upon contact betweenthe lower ends of the guide rods and the bottom of the carton, it ispreferred to provide the retracting mechanism at the top of the rods andto flare the rods apart in their upper reaches suiiciently to pass thefull diameter of the discs. Hence a charging space is provided betweenthe lower reaches of the rods (which confine the stack) and theretracting mechanism at the top of the rods, and such charging space isdimensioned to receive the discs in sub-stacks amounting to a handful.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art when the following description is read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention for the packing of can ends inopen ended containers, and showing in dotted lines the relationship ofthe container with the other parts when the can ends are depositedtherein;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Figure l, butshowing the relationship of the parts when the can ends are released fordeposit in the container;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Figure l;

Figure 7 is a photograph illustrating the manner of charging the machinewith can lids and maintaining a stack thereof in position preparatory tolling a container.

raam? Upon a suitable frame 1, the several parts of the apparatus arecarried.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the apparatus is constructedand arranged for packaging can ends in multiples of about two hundred inopen-ended containers of square cross section, but it will be understoodthat containers of polygonal shapes other than squareended containersand of lengths such as to accommodate more or less can ends may beutilized.

At the upper end of the frame 1, a head plate 2 is provided, and aplurality of rods 3, 4, 5, and 6 depend downwardly therefrom. The rods3, 4, S, and 6 are journaled in a plate 7 which spaces the rods in suchmanner that the inner increments of the several rods (below plate 7)will lie immediately outside the periphery of a can end or stack thereofupon which the device is to operate. The outer increments of the severalrods (below plate 7) are, however, positioned so as to lie within theinside corners of a container into which the can ends are to be packed.Preferably, the interior cross-sectional dimensions of the container aresubstantially the same as the diameter of the can ends to be packedtherein, so that when in packed position, the can ends are tangent withthe several side walls of the container at the center lines of thelatter. In these circumstances, the diameter of the several rods 3, 4,5, and 6 must, therefore, be limited so that they can be accommodatedwithin the corners of the container and outwardly of the periphery ofthe can ends packed therein.

Below plate 7 rods 3, 4, 5, and 6 have portions extending in parallelspaced relationship, and at the location above described with referenceto the can ends and the container, Above plate 7, the several rods arelinearly offset from the parallel portions thereof below plate 7. Suchoffsetting increases the spaced relationship between the forwardmostrods 3 and 4, so as to provide a charging space of greater width thanthe diameter of the can ends to be handled. The upper extremities of therods 3, 4, 5, and 6 are respectively journaled in cranks 13, 14, 15, and16 (shown clearly in Figure 5), whose axes of rotation are in alignmentwith the lower parallel portions of rods 3, 4, 5, and 6, with which theyare respectively connected. The throw of the respective cranks 13, 14,15, and 16 is equal to the amount of the lineal offset of the severalrods as between the portions thereof connected with the cranks, and theportions thereof which project below plate 7.

The portion of the rods below plate 7 constitute an open frame workwithin which a stack of can ends may be confined in axial alignment,with sufficient freedom of movement to permit maneuvering themcircumferentially for inspection while so confined. Movement of thestack of can ends downwardly below the lower extremities of rods 3, 4,5, and 6 is, however, obstructed by projections 17, 18, 19, and 20 atthe lower ends of the respective rods. Said projections normally extendfrom the rods in the general direction of the geometrical axis of thestack of confined ends; said projections essentially extending inwardlyto a point within the periphery of the can ends being handled.

Rotation of the rods 3, 4, 5, and 6 about the axis dened by plate 7 andcranks 13, 14, 15, and 16 retracts the projections 17, 18, 19, and 20from their obstructing position shown in Figure 3 to the position shownin Figure 4, where the projections lie wholly outside the periphery ofthe can ends, thereby releasing the stack of can ends for downwardmovement relative to the rods and out of confinement thereby.

The several cranks 13, 14, 15, and 16 are mechanically connected to beconcomitantly moved through the same arc. Such a mechanical connectionis shown clearly in Figure 6, where it will be observed that pinions 23,24, 25, and 26 are secured respectively to the shafts of the cranks 13,14, 15, and 16. The several pinions are engaged by a gear 27, so thatrotation of the latter through a given arc concomitantly rotates theseveral pinions and cranks through arcs of equal magnitude (which may bemore or less than the arc through which gear 27 was rotated, dependingupon the relative diameters of the gear and pinions). The gear 27 isdriven in rotation about shaft 2S by an arm 29, secured to the gear andprojecting outwardly beyond head plate 2, where it is interconnectedwith a bell crank 30 journaled upon a shaft 31 supported by the headplate 2. A pin-and-slot connection is provided between the bell crank 30and the arm, so that the arm 29 will follow the movement of the bellcrank 30 as the latter rotates about the shaft 31. Accordingly, theapplication of an upward force to end 32 of bell crank 30 moves gear 27in the counterclockwise direction, to the position shown in Figure 6,and moves pinions 23, 24, 25, Z6 in the clockwise direction.

In order to limit the amplitude of the arc through which projections 17,18, 19, and 20 may turn, any of several arrangements of abutments may beprovided for limiting the movement of the gear 27, the arm 29, or thebell crank 30. In the embodiment shown, however, such limitation ofamplitude is accomplished by leaving a blank such as 33 in the gear 27.The blank 33 is provided where gear teeth would otherwise be in theperiphery of gear 27. The particular blank 33 limits the clockwisemovement of gear 27 by coming into engagement with the teeth of pinion26, and thereby arresting further movement in that direction. Movementin the opposite direction is arrested when blank 33 comes intoengagement with the teeth of pinion 25. While similar blanks may beprovided to interfere with the meshing of the other pinions beyond thedesired amplitude, one such arrangement will suffice.

A container support 40 is mounted for vertical movement in a track-wayon frame 1 between the position shown in full and dotted lines inFigure 1. The container support is a box-like structure open at itsupper end and front side so that an oblong container 41 of square crosssection, closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, may bepositioned inthe support and sustained thereby below the lower terminiof rods 3, 4, 5, and 6, as shown in full lines in Figure l. Thecontainer support is provided with a latch 42 for retaining the supportin its lower position. The support 40 is preferably biased as by acounterweight 39 toward its upper position, illustrated in dotted linesin Figure 1. Accordingly, upon release of latch 42 the support 40,together with container 41 sustained thereby, is moved upwardly intotelescopic relationship with rods 3, 4, 5, and 6 and the stack of canends conned thereby.

The container support 40V is provided with an ear 43 extending laterallytherefrom and embracing a push and pull rod 44. The rod 44 is secured atits upper end to end 32 of bell crank 30, and is provided intermediateits length with an abutment 45, which may be adjustable lengthwise ofrod 44. The rod 44 is also provided with an abutment 46 at its lowerend. A coil spring 47 encircles rod 44 between ear 43 and abutment 46,and another coil spring 48 encircles rod 44 above ear 43. Consequently,when latch 42 is released, support 40 is drawn upwardly by the bias ofcounterweight 39; the support 40 being guided by its track way so as todirect the upper open end of container 41 over the lower ends of rods 3,4, 5, and 6 and with the rods positioned in the corners of the container41. When, during its upward movement, ear 43 of support 40 approachesabutment 45 on rod 44, spring 48 makes engagement with the abutment andmoves rod 44 upwardly thus rocking bell crank 30 and moving arm 29 intothe position shown in Figure 6. During such movement (which does notoccur until container 41 has been telescoped over rods 3, 4, 5, and 6)gear 27 drives the pinions, which in turn rotate the rods to an extentsuch as to move projections 17, 18, 19, and 20 from the position shownin Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4. When the projections arethus rei tracted,:therweightgofctheastack of can lends conlined betweenthe rods comes to rest-upon thetbottom end of container 41, and beingthus transferred to the container support 40 overcomesthecounterweight39 and moves the support 40 with-container 41, andthe stack of can lids4therein-now contained,downwardly to the position shown in full lines inFigure 1. Toward the end of this movement ear 43 engages spring 47 anddelivers an impulse to rod 44, pulling the same downwardly and therebyrocking bell crank 30 and gear 27 into the position where projections17, 18, 19, 20 are restored to the location shown in Figure 3 where theyprevent escape downwardly of a new charge of can lids which may bedeposited therein.

In order to facilitate predetermination of the number of can ends to bepacked in a given container, a stack height gauge 49 may be mounted onone of the rods such as 3. Such a gauge may be adjustable vertically ofthe rod in order to compensate for differences in the gauge of the sheetmetal from which the lids are punched or to compensate for differencesin the multiples in which the lids are to be packed.

While from the foregoing description those skilled in the art shouldreadily understand the mode of the operation of the invention andrealize that it accomplishes its objects, the photograph of Figure 7illustrates not only the manner of charging the apparatus withsub-stacks of can lids representing a typical handful of about twentyveby inserting them through the open space provided between rods 3 and 4above plate 7, but also illustrates the facility with which defectivelids may be detected while in the stacked relationship and confinedbetween the several rods. While in such confined relationship, theentire stack of lids may be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereofso as to bring every increment of circumference of the lids into clearview of an operator or inspector. Defects thus become quickly apparent,whether such defects are in the chime (which is exposed to full view) orin an internal part which results in imperfect nesting of the severallids and thus reveals itself.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed indetail, it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to thatembodiment. On the contrary, it is realized that many modifications ofthe apparatus will present themselves to those skilled in the art as theexigencies of particular applications of the machine are confronted, andit is, therefore, to be understood that such modifications andvariations do not part from the spirit of the invention, and arecontemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for charging a stack of round discs into a polygonalcontainer comprising rod-supporting means, a plurality of parallel rodsprojecting therefrom and having free ends remote from said supportingmeans in positions corresponding with corner locations of the container,the outer increments of said rods being located within the insidedimension of the container, the inner increments of said rods beinglocated outside the periphery of the discs, projections on the endsopposite said supporting means of some of said rods extending inwardlyof the periphery of said discs, and means for retracting saidprojections.

2. The apparatus of claim l wherein the rods depend vertically from saidrod-supporting means, said projections being on the lower ends of therods and said retracting means being at the upper ends of the rods.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 having a container support arranged formovement relative to said rod-supporting means in the directionlengthwise of the rods to telescope a container on said containersupport over said rods, and means actuated by relative movement of saidcontainer support toward said rod-supporting means to actuate theretracting means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the container supportismounted formovement along a trackway to- `ward and .away from saidtelescopingrelationship,.and vmeans adjacent said trackway engageable bysaidfcontainer support during` such movement to actuate saidretractingmeansand move said projections outwardly and inwardlyrelativeto the periphery of the discs.

y5. An apparatus for charging a stack of round discs into a polygonalcontainer comprising, rod-,supporting means, a plurality of parallelrods projecting therefrom and having free ends remote from saidsupporting means in positions corresponding with corner locations of thecontainer, the outer increments of said rods being located within theinside dimension of the container, the inner increments of said rodsbeing located outside the periphery of the discs, projections on thefree ends of some of said rods extending inwardly of the periphery ofsaid discs, and means at the supported ends of said rods for turningsaid rods about their axes to an extent such that said projections lieoutside the periphery of said discs.

6. An apparatus for charging a stack of round discs into a polygonalcontainer comprising rod-supporting means, a plurality of rodsprojecting therefrom and having parallel portions remote from saidsupporting means positioned to correspond with corner locations of saidcontainer and other portions adjacent said supporting means lineallyoffset from said parallel portions, the outer increments of saidparallel portions of the rods being located within the inside dimensionsof said container, the inner increments of said parallel portions beinglocated outside the periphery of the discs, the offset portions of saidrods being spaced apart a distance greater than the parallel portionsthereof, and selectively releasable means at the ends of said parallelportions remote from said offset portions for obstructing the passage'of discs therebeyond.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the offset portions of the .rodsare mounted in cranks Whose throw is equal to the amount of offset inthe rods and whose axes of rotation are substantially aligned with theparallel portions of the rods respectively.

S. The combination of claim 7 wherein the obstructing means is aprojection on the rod normally extending Within the periphery of thediscs but movable outwardly thereof upon rotation of said rods.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein the obstructing means is aprojection on the rod normally extending within the periphery of thediscs but movable outwardly thereof upon rotation of said rods, and thecranks of all rods are interconnected to concomitantly drive the samethrough the same arc.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein the obstructing means is aprojection on the rod normally extending within the periphery of thediscs but movable outwardly thereof upon rotation of said rods, thecranks of all rods are interconnected to concomitantly drive the samethrough the same arc, and means for limiting the amplitude of said arc.

l1. An apparatus for charging a stack of round discs into a polygonalcontainer comprising rod-supporting means, a plurality of rodsprojecting therefrom and having parallel portions remote from saidsupporting means positioned to correspond with corner locations of saidcontainer and other portions adjacent said supporting means lineallyoffset from said parallel portions, the outer increments of saidparallel portions of the rods being located within the inside dimensionsof said container, the inner increments of said parallel portions beinglocated outside the periphery of the discs, the offset portions of saidrods being spaced apart a distance greater than the parallel portionsthereof, selectively releasable means at the ends of said parallelportions remote from said offset portions for obstructing the passage ofdiscs therebeyond, and means for biasing said means into obstructingposition.

Mmm-

12. The method of packaging can lids comprising the steps of piling thelids within an open rack of verticallyextending parallel rods, the innerincrements of which lie von a circle of a diameter approximating that ofthe can lids, telescoping an elongate box over said rods, the box beingof a polygonal cross section such that the corners thereof nest aboutsaid rods, and withdrawing said rods from between the lids and box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

